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October 20, 2005US ImmigrationFirst Immigration Officer (in booth)Officer: Have you ever been to the USA before. Me: Yes, I used to live here. Officer: What was your status? Me: I was a permanent resident. Officer: Is that arabic? [pointing to my t-shirt]. Me: No, it's Sanskrit. Officer: What does it say? Me: It says: Aum, Sanskrit, in Sanskrit. Officer: [not comprehending] IS IT ARABIC. Me: No, it's Sanskrit. Officer: [irritated] When did you give up your Green Card? Me: [I give a date in 2005]. Officer: 2005 [seems interested in this]. Officer: Where is your old passport [my new passport was issued a couple of weeks ago]. Me: I don't have it with me. Officer: [Irritated]. Me: I have a form that I filed, relinquishing my status [looks for it in briefcase — steps to the left slightly to put file folder on counter]. Officer: What are you doing? Don't stand behind me [aggressively]. Me: [Heart pumping, hands shaking] Sorry [moves one half-pace to right — finds form and hands it to him]. Officer: Are you here on business? Me: Yes. Half the time on business and half on vacation. Officer: Did the consulate tell you that you didn't need a visa to enter the USA? Me: No, but my understanding was that I could enter on a visa waiver. Officer: Do you still hold identification? Me: What do you mean? Officer: Do you have a US driver's license, social security number? Me: Yes, I have a California Driver's license and a social security number [I wish now that I had told him that Id just filed my 2004 US tax return] Officer: Go to second stage [points in general direction, then calls over another officer and starts conferring with him]. Me: [starts walking in direction he pointed, then looks back wondering if his colleague will guide me]. Officer: [hostile] Go to stage 2. Me: Looks up at signs and finds stage 2. Second Immigration Officer (in back room)Officer: Yes. Me: I was sent here by the other guy. Officer: You're not on the computer [looks at me, needing help]. Me: He sent me in here and then started talking with another guy, maybe the other guy was going to talk with you. Officer: Ok, I'll go and check, please take a seat. Me: [sits and waits]. Officer: [comes back, says to colleage something about "gave it up" in an incredulous tone] How long are you here for? Me: [I tell him a date in the summer]. Officer: Are you here on business? Me: Half of the time business, half the time ... Officer: Business then [as he stamps passport and writes WT in the passport stamp and WB on the departure record stamp — departure record stamped until: [sometime in Fall 2005]]. Make sure to hand this is [pointing to the departure record] when you check in for you return flight. Me: Sure. Officer: [Sends me away] Third Immigration / Customs Officer (after collecting bag)Me: [Hands in customs form to male officer]. Officer: [male officer goes to wave me on, female office stays stop and takes me to search bags] Is this your first trip to the USA? Me: No, I used to live here. Officer: H1-B, student visa? Me: Green Card, I gave it up. Officer: Why did you do that? [I start to speak] because you dont live here any more. Me: Yes. Officer: What do you do for work? Me: I design computer chips. Officer: And who employs you? Me: I work for [my employer] in the UK. Officer: Is that the same company you worked for here? Me: I work for the UK subsidiary of the company I used to work for when I was in the USA. Officer: What do you do there, are you a manager or something? Me: I used to be a manager when I was in the USA but now I am not. I just design chips. Officer: Do you have a business card? Me: [I hand her my card]. Officer: You're an architect, heh? Do you design buildings? [my card says "Senior Architect"]. Me: No, I architect computer chips. Officer: I just wondered because some people do all kinds of things, some things on the side. Me: Oh. I just architect and design computer chips. Officer: I want to check that large bag [I pass it to her]. Please can you unlock it. Is that arabic? Me: No, it's an ancient Indian language called Sanskrit, the oldest known language. Officer: What does it say? Me: It says: "Aum, Sanskrit" on the front [I turn around] and on the back [pointing at my back] it says "totally awesome". Officer: Did you pack your bag yourself? Me: No, my wife packed it. Officer: Thank goodness for wives. Me: I was so busy with getting ready for my trip that my wife helped me by packing, it was really good that she could help me. Officer: What's this? Me: That's a waterproof case for my camera, I'm going on a river trip. Officer: Where are you going? Me: [I tell her about places I'm going in Oregon]. Officer: Oregon as well? [sounds interested / suspicious / something]. Me: Yes. It's a really nice event in Oregon. Officer: Have you been before? Me: Yes, I went with my family last year, this year we all wanted to go again, but my wife did not want to deal with the flight. Officer: So you plan to come back regularly? Me: Yes, if possible, every year. Officer: [looking in my passport] A jew? Me: Excuse me? Officer: Are you jewish? Me: Huh? Did you ask me if I was Jewish? Officer: Yes, here is your passport, it says ... oh no I thought it said Israel [pointing to emergency contact information for Isabelle]. Officer: [as I re-lock my bag] Do you like your job? Me: Yes, I do like it. I like it a lot actually. Officer: [she lets me go].
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